Slider for slide fasteners



D. E. BREITHAUPT 2,923,993

SLIDER FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Filed June 28, 1957 INVENTOR.

DONALD E BFzevrnAup-r A-r-roauevs United States Patent 2,923,993 SLIDER FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Donald E. Breithaupt, Shiprock, N. Mex. Application June 28, 1957, Serial No. 668,660

3 Claims. (Cl. 24-20514) This invention relates generally to the art of slide fastener construction. More particularly, the invention has reference to a novel construction of a slider for a slide fastener.

The convention slider is so formed that the outer face thereof is provided with ears or similar bearing projections, extending outwardly from said face, between which a pull is supported for pivotal movement upon the mentioned surface of the slider body.

This construction has the distinct disadvantage that V, the, pull is in overlying relation to the outer wall or surface of the slider body, as a result of which said pull, and the ears or projections that support the pull for pivotal movement, form an undesirable projection upon the slider body. Said projection represented by the pull and the means supporting the same for pivotal movement interfere with pressing of the garment on which the slide fastener is provided, that is, any fabric overlying the slider tends to be bulged out by the projecting, overlying pull. Therefore, when an attempt is made to press this portion of the fabric, the pull presses into the fabric, causing rapid wear of the same at this particular location. In any event, there is often provided a visible projection of the fabric at the particular location of the slider, and this also, of course, should be obviated if possible.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an improved slider of the type in which the pull is maintained in the plane of the outer wall of the slider body, when not in use. In other words, it is already known, per se, to provide a flush pull slider, that is, a slider for a fastener, that incorporates a pull which will lie flush with the outer wall of the slider, and will not represent an undesirable projection. In the prior art devices, the overall length of the slider is undesirably extended, in accomplishing the flush mounting of the pull, it having been noted that in those instances in which the pull is truly mounted in the plane of the outer wall of the slider, it projects for its entire length or for at least a substantial portion of its length beyond one'end of the slider. In accordance with the present invention, the overall length of the slider is not increased by the flush-mounted pull, except to a completely inconsequential degree that would escape anything except the most careful inspection.

A further object is to incorporate 'a flush pull in a slider in a manner such as not to increase the overall thickness of the slider above that of sliders not having the'characteristic of the present invention, except, again, to' no more than a completely inconsequential degree.

Still another object is to provide a flush-mounted pull which will be so formed in relation to the slider as to have a novel locking means normally engaging the pull in coplanar relationvto the top wall of the slider, said locking means being disposed at the free or distal end of the pull so as to increase the effectiveness of the lock as compared to constructions in which the pull is locked in its inoperative, down position by means located at or near the pivotal connection of the pull to the slider body.

Another object is to provide a flush pull slider designed for incorporation in a slide fastener without requiring modification of the slide fastener tapes or of the tooth elements on the tapes.

Another object is to provide a slider having a flushmounted pull, which slider can be manufactured at a low cost, by mass production methods.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a slider according to the present invention, the stringer tapes being illustrated fragmentarily;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1 in which the pull is shown in full and dotted lines in its inoperative and operative positions, respectively;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the slider per se, on a scale slightly reduced below that of Figures 1 and 2, with the pull in its inoperative position; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 in which the portions 15, carrying the elements 17, are extended with-.

in the outwardly opening sides of the slider, in the usual manner.

The slider 10 constitutes the invention, and comprises outer and inner walls 18, 2% respectively lying in parallel planes (Figure 2), to provide a slider of the so-called flush type. The outer and inner walls 18, 20 respectively, at one end portion of the slider, shown as the. lower end portion in Figures 14, are respectively formed with parallel side edges, with the walls remaining ofconstant width for part of the length of the slider body, said walls being thereafter progressively increased in width in a direction toward the opposite extremity of the body, shown at the upper end in the several figures of the drawing.

This of course is a generally conventional configuration of the slider body, it being understood that the tapes are interlocked where they extend out of the narrower end of the body, and are unlocked, in diverging relation, where they extend out of the wider end of the body.

At opposite sides of the body, there are provided the outwardly facing guide channels 14, 14 for the respective edge portions 15, said channels opening upon the opposite ends of the body, and also opening throughout their lengths upon the adjacent sides of the body. The walls 18, 20 define side walls for the channels. Inner walls or webs for the channels are defined by a V-shaped guide structure provided in thewider end of the body between the walls 18, 20, said structure comprising di vergent walls 22, which walls converge at a location medially between opposite ends of the body, and diverge from this location toward the wider end of the body as shown to particular advantage in Figure 1. The walls 22 extend in laterally inwardly spaced relation to the divergent portions of the sides of the body, so as to cause the channels 14 to diverge to impart a correspond ing divergence to the stringer tapes where they extend Patented Feb. 9, 1960 out'tof the-wider endof the slider body. The channels 14, between the point of convergence of the walls 22 andthe narrower extremity of the body, are in full communication with each other,'since it is in this portion of. the length of the body that the fastener elements 17 of'the respective edge portions 15 are interlocked (see.

Figure 1).

An end wall 24 at the wider end of the body terminates at its opposite ends at the divergent. extremities of walls 22.

At the widerend of the body, the channels 14 are of maximum width, having guide surfaces 26 defined by the inner surfaces of the walls 18, 20. Inwardly a short distance from this extremity of the channels, the channels are narrowed where they open upon the sides of the body,

through the provision of confronting longitudinal flanges formed upon the opposite sides of the walls 18, 20; said flanges being designated 28 and defining shoulders 30 Centrally formed within the inwardlyoffset portion 32 is' a transversely extending; elongated opening '38. A wide, fiat pull or'tab40 has at'its inner end an integral sleeve 42 extending transversely of the pull and loosely receivinga pivot pin or cross bar 44, that is an integral partof wall 18 and is defined between recess 36 and opening'38,'that is, the cross bar is the portion'of thewall 18 that extends as a separation or divider between the recess 36fand said opening 38.

By reason of this arrangement; when the pull is in its normal, inoperative position of Figures 1 and 3, it is coplanar with the main portion of the top wall 18, that is, with the entire area of the top wall with the exception of theinwardly otfset portion 32 thereof.

The pull pivots between the full and dotted line-positions of Figure 2, extending outwardly from the top wall 18 when in its dotted line, use'position.

At its distal end, pull 40'is formed with a transversely extending lip 46 directed toward the inner wall 20.

In end wall 24 there is formed an opening 48, coextensive in width with the recess 36 and separated from the recess by a cross bar 49 that constitutes an integral part'of the wall 24 as shown toparticular advantage in Figure 4. The pull 40, on the inner surface of the lip 46, has'a small, inwardly projecting lug or node 52 that constitutes a detent engageable in back of the cross bar 49 inth'eclosed position of the pull shown in full lines in Figure 2. Thus, the pull is effectively locked in its closed or inoperative position, and it is important to note that the lock is disposed at the end of the pull remote from its pivot axis, so that with a minimum amount of projection of the lug 52, a highly eifective lock is provided, thought to possess considerable advantages over locks disposed in close proximity to the pivot axis, where it is diflicult to obtain an effective locking action for holding the pull in its inoperative, normal position.

At opposite sides of the sleeve42, the pull 40 is formed with laterally outwardly projecting fingers 50 tapering or decreasing progressively in width in a direction toward their free, outer ends. The fingers 50 form abutments or steps; which move'into the lateral extension 34 of recess 36 when the pull is inits inoperative position. Whenthe pull'is'swung to its use position, the stop fingers 5013831 against thettop wall 18, at oppositesides of the inwardly ofiset or depressed. portion 32, as shown in Figure 4, limiting swinging movement of thepull outwardly from thebody in the directionvof the ,arrow in i-FigurelZibe? yond a position in which the pull is at an angle slighty more'than'90 degrees to the wider portionof the --body.-

It is to be noted that the fingers not only project laterally outwardly from the sides of the pull, but also, are formed on their inside surfaces with locking projections 54 which are of triangular cross section as shown to best advantage in Figure 4, that is, the locking projections 54 are extended inwardly of- 'thel body in the inoperative position of .the pull,.at.right.angles to the planes of the pull, within the divergentportions'oftheguide channels 14, so as to engage at their. pointedyfree ends, in the interstices between adjacent fastening elements 17 of the stringer tapes.

By reason of this: arrangement, when the pull is swung to its inoperative position shown in full lines in Figure 2, not only will it automatically lock in said position when it becomes fully coplanar with the main portion of the outer wall. 18, but also, it will locate its locking projections in locking engagement'withthe beaded-"or toothed stringers, soth'at the slide is prevented from slipping longitudinallyof the stringers.

Of course, ,the stringers are unlocked, that is ',*disen-" gaged from the-projections 54; simultaneously with unlocking-of the pull-from'thebody and swinging of the-pull" to its dottedlineposition of FigureZ.

It is believed clear that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for anypurpose-to which it may be suited. Nor is-the invention to be necessarily limited to the=specific construction illustrated and d'e scribed, since such'construction isonly intended tobe il'- lustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to'carry'out'said principlesyit being 'con sidered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted"within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A slider for a 'slide'fastener, comprising: a body in eluding outer and inner walls defining between them: longitudinal guide-channels extending along-opposite side's thereof, theouter wall having a recess; a pull pivoting on the outer wall between aninoperative positioniin:which: said pull lies in the'recess' in coplanar relation to the outert wall, and a use position in which it-projects outwardlyl from theouter wall; and'interengaging means onithe'pull and body respectively, releasablydocking the :pull in: the; inoperative position thereof, comprising a lug'onftheipull: and a cross baron theb'ody' in-baclcof which'th'e. lug ens gages in said inoperative position: of the-pull, saidrpull pivoting on the outer wall-atone end of the ipull',.the:pull at its opposite end being formed 'witha lip projectingztm ward the. inner wall in the-inoperative position'rof rthe=pull andcarrying'said lug, said'cross'bar ofithebody extends ing transversely of one end of thebody in the space 'be-i tween the outer and inner wa1ls,'-said.outer'wallpfthe body being formed ov er part of--- its area:with.a.'portion ottset I inwardly in respect-to the" remaining. portion; of the area of the outer wall, thepull -beingformedmt said one end thereofwith a sleeve'correspondinglyoifsetein: wardly and lying in the-planetof thezinwardly otfset'pore tion oftheouter wall, saidinwardlyrofisetaportion:of the outervwall having an opening'closely spaced from;;said recess defining between the opening;and.zrecessz.a cross member loosely extended ithrough..the-sleve-zto provide the pivotal mounting of the pull upon the body; 1

2. Aslider for a slide fastener;.comprisingz-"a-tbody including outer and inner'walls: defining :between, them longitudinal guide channels extending zalong opposite: sides thereof, the outer wall having a recess,a-pullpivotingon the-outerwall between an: inoperative POSitiOIIiiD .which said pulllie's inthe-'recess-in coplanar-relation to the outer wall, and a useposition in which it projects outwardly from the" outer wall; interengaging-meanssonthe pull and body respectively, releasably' locking the pulldn the inoperative position thereof; fingers projecting laterally outwardly from opposite sides of the pull adjacent the pivot axis thereof, said fingers being disposed for engaging the outer wall on swinging of the pull to its use position, to limit swinging of the pull beyond the use position thereof; and locking projections formed upon the fingers and extending, in the inoperative position of the pull, toward said inner wall into the guide channels, in position to lockably engage between adjacent fastener elements of stringer tapes extending through said channels when the pull is in the inoperative position thereof.

3. A slider for a slide fastener, comprising: a body including outer and inner walls defining between them longitudinal guide channels extending along opposite sides thereof, the outer wall having a recess; a pull pivoting on the outer wall between an inoperative position in which said pull lies in the recess in coplanar relation to the outer wall, and a use position in which it projects outwardly from the outer wall; said outer wall extending the full length and Width of the body and having laterally outwardly directed extensions of said recess adjacent the pivot axis of the pull; and laterally outwardly projecting stop fingers on the pull movable into the extensions in the inoperative position of the pull in the plane of the outer wall, said extensions being radially spaced from the pivot axis of the pull and traveling in an arcuate path about said axis into engagement with the outer wall on swinging of the pull from its inoperative to its operative position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,680,362 Binns Aug. 14, 1928 1,903,415 Greenberg Aug. 4, 1933 2,131,567 Marinsky Sept. 27, 1938 2,269,879 Marinsky Jan. 13, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 139,854 Sweden Apr. 14, 1953 661,719 Great Britain Nov. 28, 1951 

